Autonomous Monastic State of Mount Athos

The Autonomous Monastic State of Mount Athos is a unique religious community located on a peninsula in Greece. It is home to 20 monasteries and is governed by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Mount Athos operates with a high degree of self-governance, having its own laws and administration, while being under the sovereignty of Greece. It has been a center of Orthodox monasticism for over a thousand years, attracting monks, pilgrims, and scholars. Notably, entry is restricted, allowing only men to visit, which preserves its spiritual and monastic lifestyle.